Like many, I was saddened to learn of the death this week of General Colin Powell, a statesman if ever there was one (and a faithful Episcopalian). General Powell was a highly respected man across a diverse swath of our nation. Even though he suffered some reputational loss towards the end of his public service, he remained an icon of what faithful service to one’s country can look like. His achievements were historic, especially for an African American man born in Harlem and raised in the Bronx. At the time he served as Secretary of State, he was the highest ranking African American government official in United States History. He was an inspiration and hero to many Americans.
In fact, General Powell was a childhood hero of mine. I literally had his trading cards. I was in middle school in 1991 when the United States launched Desert Storm. I was still collecting baseball cards back then, so when Topps came out with the Desert Storm trading cards, I began collecting them, too. There were cards for the weapons of war, cards for the various countries in the alliance, and there were the cards for the leaders like President Bush, General Schwarzkopf, and others, including General Powell. As I look back on it now, those cards very much instilled a sense of respect and reverence in the minds of young men like me (I didn’t know any girls who collected cards!).
In a few weeks, we will commemorate all our veterans on Veterans Day, including those who served in Desert Storm. We do well to remember all the men and women who have served in our Armed Forces, and remember their service with gratitude. While I have not served, my family is full of men and women who have served in peacetime and wartime. None of them appear on trading cards, yet their service is equally as honorable. Just this week, I met a WWII veteran who served in the US Navy and recounted how his ship was torpedoed in the Atlantic. He thought he might die, as he explained it, but was picked up by a lifeboat. He’s now in his late 90’s, and proudly wears his WWII baseball cap.
As Veterans Day approaches, we are rolling out a program in the cemetery that has been in the works for a couple of years. We have long had flags at the graves of veterans buried in our cemetery, although in many cases the flags are stuck into the ground or into plastic pipes painted green. We have decided to install cast aluminum grave markers for all of our veterans in the cemetery, indicating their branch of service. Even when the flags are not present, the markers will alert visitors to their service. Volunteers from the VFW will work with Harry Branch, our Cemetery Superintendent to install the markers in time for the holiday. Moving forward, families of veterans will be able to purchase markers that are conflict specific, like WWII or Desert Storm, if they prefer those to the service branch insignia. We will be sending a letter to the parish and to families with loved ones in the cemetery about this in the coming weeks, in part to solicit donations from those who wish to honor their or any veteran with a medallion.
I am grateful for the life and service of Colin Powell, from his career in the United States Army, to his role as a public servant for many years after. Statesmen of his caliber are an increasing rarity in our political world today. His death reminds us of what we have lost in a wider sense. I hope that in remembering General Powell and all our veterans, we will remember what unites us and inspires us to preserve our union.
Tom+
O judge of the nations, we remember before you with grateful hearts the men and women of our country who in the day of decision ventured much for the liberties we now enjoy. Grant that we may not rest until all people of this land share the benefits of true freedom and gladly accept it disciplines. This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN. (BCP)
Photo Credits: Colin Powell trading card via Amazon.com; US Marine marker via gettysburgflag.com.